There are people I know who shout out their political preferences for all to see with bumper stickers. Lots of them, that have all kinds of politically incorrect sayings stuck on their vehicles.

You know the ones I mean, especially about the current administration in Washington. These friends get into a lot of discussions whereever they drive, sometimes from supportive souls and sometimes from those who want to crash into them. This seems to happen more often when they are driving in Vermont.It is the season for political memorabilia, as we get ready to vote for another president, and I once again drag out and dust off a campaign button collection I acquired from conservative friends. Bumper stickers don’t last but campaign buttons are a different story. Properly handled they can be historical keepsakes that stick around year after year. This collection is impressive and I often thought could be valuable.It certainly brings back memories.“It’s not right or left. It’s right or wrong.” (Year unknown.)“Go Pat Go!” (This refers to Pat Buchanan. From 2000.)“Elizabeth Dole, never send a man to do a woman’s job.” (Gutsy for its day.)“Hope, Growth & Opportunity. Forbes 2000.” (Who?)“K2K all the way! Kasich.” (Huh?)There are even older ones.One from 1992 just says “Re-elect” above photographs of George H. Bush and Dan Quayle. (Who says vice presidents don’t matter?)Another from 1984 says “Re-elect Ron and George” with photos of you know who.The one I have always thought could have the most potential for big money is “America needs Nixon-Agnew” with photos.Agnew. Those of us in journalism can never thank him enough for coining his now-famous “nattering nabobs of negativism” term for us.He resigned early, for those who don’t know. Even before Nixon did.With another heated presidential contest coming to a head I decided it was time to see what this all is really worth. Turns out not much.Several antique dealers who know something about political memorabilia said the market has changed dramatically. Technology allows companies to churn out overnight just about any kind of button and bumper sticker. You order them online and afterward you can buy and sell them as collectibles on eBay, Craigslist and other places. So the antiques market for such things has dried up for all but the oldest and rarest.The real value is in personalized materials, said several dealers. These would be items from a special event, say a dinner, where the candidate spoke and maybe even autographed something you now have.Then there are the historical items. One dealer in Massachusetts has a collection of Kennedy buttons he will be offering at auction soon that could fetch a very good price. He did not want to discuss it just yet. The auction world is very competitive, sort of like politics.Maureen Boyd, of Boyd Antiques in Eliot, Maine, recalls handling a very rare political “pin back” campaign button for George Washington. Yes, going all the way back to our nation’s beginning. It sold for under $1,000, she said.So political items can be fascinating and bring back all kinds of interesting memories. But something to send the kids to college on? Hardly.I did price some of the buttons I have on eBay. The most valuable was out there being sold by someone else with an offer of $5.99 and two days left on the bidding.I think I’ll hang on to it for old times sake.